Arnold residents will double-down their donations at the upcoming ‘Be A Game Changer’ fundraiser. This event is on June 22 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Arnold Community Center with the purpose of improving Arnold. The Arnold Community Foundation Fund has agreed to match all local donated funds dollar for dollar. Following a free will donation meal, teams can compete in three game changing events, including a combination of all three called a triathlon. There will be three rounds for each event and each event will last for 50 minutes.

In the tabletop escape room challenge, teams will race to complete the escape room before everyone else. This event (and fundraiser) was inspired by the Arnold’s Hometown Interns trip to Norfolk, and the activity will be provided by a former Hometown Intern from Norfolk, Encrypt Escape Rooms.

The jigsaw puzzle race will have teams compete to complete as much of a 300-piece puzzle as they can and solve more pieces than their competitors. Five of the custom puzzles designed with historical Arnold photographs will be put up for silent auction during the event.

Groups will compete for the most points in the team trivia contests based on pop culture, sports, history, Nebraska, and miscellaneous categories.

Each team is composed of six people and teams will be offered up to $1,000 in prize money. The prize for individual events is $200 and the prize for the triathlon is $400. The price to enter is $100 per team per event (or about $17 per person per event). There is also the Triathlon deal where teams can enter all three events for $275. (That would be about $15 per person per event). To enter, teams can contact Bryn Schwarz at bschwarz@nebcommfound.org or sign up at Mills Hardware. Be sure to check social media on the Arnold Community Foundation for entry options and updates.

Childcare will be provided for competing teams. This fundraiser is important for Arnold because it takes place during the Custer County Foundation’s ‘Give 4 Custer County’ event, which lasts from June 16 - 30. During this time, every dollar donated to the Arnold Area Historical Society, Arnold Cemetery, Finch Memorial Library, and the Riverview Garage Project will be put in a pool with other organizations around Custer County. The Custer County Foundation has a pool of $50,000 for matching. The more money raised by individual organizations, the more money the Custer County Foundation will match them. For example, if the Arnold Cemetery raises 4% of the total money raised by all the organizations, then the Custer County Foundation will share 4% of the match pool.

Additionally, the Arnold Community Foundation will match dollar for dollar up to half of each entities’ goal during the ‘Be a Game Changer’ fundraiser. For example, if someone donated $20, it would be like they donated $40. The money that the Arnold Community Foundation Fund will donate will also work in conjunction with ‘Give 4 Custer County’ to give each of the 4 organizations the best opportunity possible for raising enough money to meet their goals.

The Arnold Area Historical Society has the goal of $20,000 for the purpose of new windows and doors for the Arnold museum. The Arnold Cemetery would like to raise $50,000 to improve the roads of the cemetery. The Finch Memorial Library wants to raise $5,000 to renovate the basement. The Rotary Club wants to raise $40,000 to build new multi-bay garages for the Riverview garage project.

FUNDRAISER INFO

Sunday, June 22: 5-9 p.m.

Arnold Community Center Free Will Donation Meal Games Find Arnold Community Foundation on Facebook